The Scottish Golf Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “One of the best golf books this century.” —Golf Digest Tom Coyne’s A Course Called Scotland is a heartfelt and humorous celebration of his quest to play golf on every links course in Scotland, the birthplace of the game he loves. For much of his adult life, bestselling author Tom Coyne has been chasing a golf ball around the globe. When he was in college, studying abroad in London, he entered the lottery for a prized tee time in Scotland, grabbing his clubs and jumping the train to St. Andrews as his friends partied in Amsterdam; later, he golfed the entirety of Ireland’s coastline, chased pros through the mini-tours, and attended grueling Qualifying Schools in Australia, Canada, and Latin America. Yet, as he watched the greats compete, he felt something was missing. Then one day a friend suggested he attempt to play every links course in Scotland and qualify for the greatest championship in golf. The result is A Course Called Scotland, “a fast-moving, insightful, often funny travelogue encompassing the width of much of the British Isles” (GolfWeek), including St. Andrews, Turnberry, Dornoch, Prestwick, Troon, and Carnoustie. With his signature blend of storytelling, humor, history, and insight, Coyne weaves together his “witty and charming” (Publishers Weekly) journey to more than 100 legendary courses in Scotland with compelling threads of golf history and insights into the contemporary home of golf. As he journeys Scotland in search of the game’s secrets, he discovers new and old friends, rediscovers the peace and power of the sport, and, most importantly, reaffirms the ultimate connection between the game and the soul. It is “a must-read” (Golf Advisor) rollicking love letter to Scotland and golf as no one has attempted it before.

Lowe takes us along the rugged eastern coast, from St. Andrews up to Montrose and Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen, "from heather, whin and sand, to points north," to Nairn and Dornoch. Then to the west coast, to Prestwick and Troon. It's not only the courses themselves that Lowe illuminates along the way, but the winding roads, the ancient villages, the farms and whiskey distilleries, and the people who call this land their home as well. Each step of his pilgrimage is given its due.

Golf is a Scottish game. It has been played by the Scots for centuries, and Scotland is its spiritual and cultural home. This is a book devoted to one nation's devotion to a game of stick and ball which today casts its enchantment over the entire world. The beginnings of golf and its early development are shrouded in mystery and are part fact and part fable. The Scottish Golf Book separates one from the other as it traces the early history of golf to the multimillion-dollar, worldwide obsession it has become today. Images from the earliest days of Scottish photography recall titanic battles between the early superstars of the game, while the modern lens takes the reader on a spectacular and magical journey around the historic, the classic, and the hidden treasures of Scotland's finest courses.

No further information has been provided for this title.

Features a foreword by Sean Connery. Scotland gave golf to the world. With more golf courses per head than any other country, it is still a golfer's paradise. They range from remote honesty box clubs to superb Open Championship courses and the busy clubs of the towns. Scotland's strength is the vast range of enjoyable and historic courses throughout the land which welcome visitors, be they players of professional standard or recreational golfers who play only for the love of the game. Previous editions of this vastly popular guide have introduced thousands to the game in Scotland. It covers the history of Scottish golf, its best courses, and gives helpful information and advice about all aspects of play in the home of golf. This new edition is greatly expanded from an informative guide to a full-scale golfing miscellany. David Hamilton has added fascinating lists, details of extraordinary and dramatic golfing feats, tales about funny and tragic incidents on the golf course, statistics about leading golfers and championships and quirky facts and figures that show the rich diversity of Scotland's national sport. As well as being a practical companion for beginners and visiting players, The Scottish Golf Guide is now the ideal gift for the golf nuts in the family.

Every golf course currently available to play in Scotland. From the glorious coastal links to the stunning parkland courses that can be found in the interior, it covers it all. As you play the courses you can record your score, who you were playing with and those memorable moments that made your round special.

Designed to help travelers plan their own golf trips to Scotland. Seven chapters offer advice on when to go, where to go, air travel, rental cars, lodging, and other travel decisions. St. Andrews receives special attention in its own chapter. Extensive descriptions of sixty-eight Scottish courses and their settings feature complete contact and booking information. Appendices include a "Golf-Readiness Checklist," a list of useful websites, and an annotated bibliography for further reading.